Aloe vera has been known and cultivated for so long that its original native range is uncertain. A few minutes
of searching turned up the Arabian penninsula, or northern Africa, or southern Africa, or maybe Madagascar; or all of the above.

Identification: Like the other 450 members of the genus,
Aloe vera
is a succulent, meaning that it stores water in the form of a gel in its thick, waxy leaves. It has a short stem,
with leaves clustered in a rosette around near the base of the plant. They are grayish green, up to
20" (50 cm) long, with pinkish margins and small spines along the leaf edges. Leaves are semi-circular
in cross-section, and taper to sharp tips.
Younger leaves may be speckled with small white
spots. Flowers are yellow cylindrical racemes 10-14" (25-35 cm) long, composed of many tubular flowers up to 1" (3 cm) long. The anthers and stamen protrude from the
flowers.
See the Aloe comparison table.

Medical:Aloe vera has been valued for thousands of years for
its medicinal properties, though studies sometimes produce conflicting results. The PDR for Herbal Medicines
cites a long list of clinical studies of this species, evaluating its possible antibacterial/antiviral, anti-inflammatory,
lax­ative properties; and treatment for acne, constipation, her­pes simplex, irritable bowel syndrome, radiation-induced dermatitis, ulcerative colitis,
leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, sunburn, vitamin absorption, and wound healing. See Candace Osmond’s Backyard Boss article The Best Things to Know About the Aloe Vera Plant for a readable and
nicely done overview of this species’ health and culinary benefits.

The gel-like sap is used to treat minor burns and
wounds, and may have application in the treatment of diabetes and elevated blood lipids. There
are many other uses as well. It is not recommended to extract the gel directly, since other
substances in the plant can cause a contact dermatitis.